Incandescent lamp socket



. Nov. 17, 1931. c. GRIMM 1,832,299

INCA'NDESCENT LAMP SOCKET Filed Jan. 15, 1931 INVENTOR M fill 3/5 3 Charles Y ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1 931 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES GRIMM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK INGANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET Application filed January 15, 1931. Serial No. 508,902.

This invention relates to electrical connections of the separable snap type as applied to plug and socket devices, of which a common incandescent'lam-p is taken as an illustration.

customarily such lamps are provided with plugs having shallow, coarse pitch screw threads to engage in corresponding threads in the socket member and must be entered to 1 the limit in order to cause the tip at the end of the plug to form electrical enga ement with the contact carried within the ttom of the socket.

If subjected to jars, vibrations, etc., it is found that such coarse, smooth screw threads readily become loosened to the extent of breaking the contact, putting the lamp out of operation; it also requires some degree of mechanical skill to properly attach and adjustthe lamp to its socket.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel and efficient type of electrical connection in which a direct thrust of the plug into the socket only is re quired.

A further feature is in the provision of means whereb the plug is positively held within the soc et ina manner proof against accidental displacement and in direct engagement with the electrical contacts carried by it, safely, surely and efiicientl-y, until it is desired to remove the lamp, accomplished by a direct, straight pull.

Another aim is to produce a form of connection, neat and attractive in appearance, and which can be manufactured at a moderate cost as compared with present-types of connections.

Still another object is to provide means whereby common screw sockets may be inexpensively changed to conform with the pres-.

ent disclosure.

These several advantageous objects are attained by the simple and novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which 1-- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention, parts being broken away to show the construction.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the socket, the lamp and its plug being in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the socket.

Figure 4 is a developed plan view of the socket carried clamp device.

An ordinary type of incandescent lam bulb is generally designated by the numera 10, the same being shown as spherical with a neck 11 contracted and extended to be rigidly set in its non-conducting plug and provided with the usual filament, one terminal of which is fixed in electrical engagement with a metallic tip 14 set in the end of the lug.

A metallic sleeve 15 is fixe on the body of the plug circumferentially, the same being in electrical engagement with the other terminal of thefilament.

Formed in the sleeve 15 are a plurality of uniform semispherical indentations 16 arranged in equal spaced relation in two or more circumiierential rows.

The socket includes the usual casing 20, reduced in diameter at its lower portion 21, beaded at 22 near its lower end, and provided with a cap 23, the flange 24 of which over-' lies and is secured to the upper portion of the casing,

A conductor 25 enters the cap through a central insulated bushing 26, one of the conductor strands engaging a contact 27, preferably of spring metal anchored as at 28, see Figure 3.

A lining 30 of non-conducting material is disposed in the form of a hollow cylinder within the socket element 21, all ofithe several parts being common and of well known construction.

A conductor plate 31, shown in blank form in Figure 4, is sheared to present a series of spring clips 32-33 directed alternately in opposite directions and centrally in each clip is a detent 34-35 shaped to conform to the indentations 16.

l he upper 1portion of the plate 31 is inbent at a rig t angle to form an annular flange 36 secured by screws 37 within the 100 socket, es seen in liiggnre 2, end it is to be understood thet the. length or the plate is such as to form n bend fitting Within the non-conducting lining 30.

The spacing of the detents -3435 is in accordance with the distance apart of the rows of indentations 16 of the plug sleeve 15, in the direction of the axis of the lump, end are laterally speced to agree with the distance epart to multiples of the indentetions 16, so thet upon pressing the lamp plug into the socket, the detents will snap into corresponding indentations.

In changing a common threaded socket to the type herein described, it is necessary only to remove the internal screw-threaded sleeve and secure the flanged bend in its place, no other change being required.

lhus e socket so equipped may he used with a plug mode in the manner described, and which will he held so firmly that no shock, jeror vibration can edect the electricel connections.

Oloviousl straight push only is required to enter and engage the plug, and it is equally evident that disengagement is equally easily efiected by e, corresponding streight pull,

* Although the foregoing is descriptive of the best known emhodiment of the inverse tion, it will he understood that changes end modifications may he resorted. to es may be embraced within the the appended Having thus described the invention, whet is claimed es new desired to secure in Letters Patent, is 1- 1. A separable electric connectioncomrising e socket, u plug engsgeshle therein y direct thrust and removable therefrom by direct pull, e single fist spring contact in said socket to engage s contact on the tip of said plug, e plurelly indented contsct sleeve on said p1ug,e bend content fixed in said soclret to receive ssid sleeve, and e series of spring detents on said bend contact to engage the indentations of said sleeve.

2. A separable electric connmtion comprising e soclcet, e plug enge euhle therein y direct thrust end remove le -therefrom by direct pull, 9, spring contact in seid socket to engage as contact on the tip of said plug, e conducting sleeve on said plug, sold sleeve hevin circumferential rows of indentations, eloen contact lined in ssid socket circumjecent seid sleeve, s series of spring clips sheared from said hand, end detents carried on said clips in plenes corresponding to the rows of indentations to engage therein.

3. A seperuhle electric connection comprising s, socket, e plug eng 'eelole therein y direct thrust and removeole therefrom by direct pull, e single flat spring contact in said socket to engege e contect on the tip of said plug, a conducting; sleeve on said plug, said sleeve having two or more circumferential rows of indentations, e. band contact fixed in said socket circumjecent said sleeve, s series of spring clips sheared from said bend in opposed mresching relation, and detents formed in said clips to extend inwardly in two difierent planes for engagement in difierent rows of indentations in said sleeve and at spec-ed intervals therein.

In testimony whereof I efiix my signature.

CHARLES G31. 

